BNP PARIBAS OPEN

March 16, 2024

Hsieh Su-Wei

Elise Mertens

Press Conference

SU-WEI-MERTENS/Hunter-Siniakova

6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Can you talk about your tournament here and your success?

ELISE MERTENS: Su-Wei?

HSIEH SU-WEI: Hi, everyone. (Laughter.)

Yes, it's always great to come back and lift the trophy again. I enjoy to play with Elise. We have so much fun on the court. I think this is again to help the doubles to have more fun on the court.

ELISE MERTENS: Yes.

HSIEH SU-WEI: And to win it (smiling).

ELISE MERTENS: I think we had a great tournament. We haven't actually lost a set. I think that's a pretty good statistic.

Very happy about our game today, too. I think a lot of things worked. We were there from the beginning. Only lost our serve once, it was actually my serve.

Yeah, I think we were really there. Also, especially on the second set, we didn't drop anything. She had an amazing point in the 4-3 to 5-3. In that game she had an amazing point which really helped. Happy that we could serve it out.

HSIEH SU-WEI: Only one?

ELISE MERTENS: A lot of great points in the first and second set. (Laughter.)

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. In terms of just talking through the match, it seemed like they were aggressive very early and seemed to kind of come out of the gates quickly. Did you make any adjustments in terms of being able to handle the match from there on?

HSIEH SU-WEI: I think I'm aggressive too on court.

ELISE MERTENS: Yeah, yeah. I think we really had to put the pressure on. Especially when Su-Wei is at the net, she puts a lot of pressure. I tried to put a lot of pressure in the back too.

Our serves were working, I think. We had all through the first one some pretty good service games. We didn't really get into trouble. I think that put a lot of pressure on the opponent too, okay, we have to get our serves, we have to hold.

So, yeah, as I said, I think our level was pretty much forward. We didn't really drop anything, not out of focus, being positive.

Yeah, it was a really good match, really good day.

HSIEH SU-WEI: I feel a lot of pressure from you, too. At the baseline that's why I stay so low, I cannot go up. Oh, pressure from the back. (Smiling.)

ELISE MERTENS: Thank you. (Laughter.)

Q. You mentioned how well you played overall today. If you compare the match to the one in Melbourne, the semifinals, would you say that was the big difference? You feel like you served so well. Was that a big difference in terms of how things went today?

HSIEH SU-WEI: I can't remember that match.

ELISE MERTENS: You cannot remember that match? Okay. Jeez.

Okay. I think that was a big difference. I think a lot of first serves went in today, which gives a lot of pressure, especially with her at the net again.

I think we returned pretty good too, as we did not give a lot of free points, and putting pressure on the second serve of them.

Yeah, I think it just kind of clicked today. It actually did throughout the whole tournament. We really grew as a team. Finals, of course, we really want to win, as everyone, of course.

But yeah, it was a tough match, because we knew they're gonna be -- they're a great team. We had a tough match against them in Australia. We kind of changed a couple of things. So, yeah, it was a good level.

Q. How did it feel to be back, Su-Wei, in Indian Wells? It's been a few years. How did it feel coming back? You played singles also in the qualifying. How did it feel to be back?

HSIEH SU-WEI: It was a little bit special this year, because I didn't play this tournament for a while, and I was sick since Qatar, so I haven't practiced a lot. And I couldn't do any exercise because the doctor suggest to me do not do any sport.

Oh, I have to play doubles. If I play singles, I have no partner, no pressure, it's okay, but I have doubles. If I don't practice, then I couldn't say, Elise, run. (Laughter.)

So I have my game plan, but now I feel much better during this tournament. Thank you for helping.

ELISE MERTENS: You're very welcome.

Q. You guys reunited at the start of this year. How did that reunion come about? Who's idea was it to get back together?

ELISE MERTENS: I actually asked her if she was available to play because we had such a great history together already, winning a slam, winning Indian Wells. So I felt like, okay, she was the right partner to my fit, which she is, I think, because we won another slam and won Indian Wells.

So I think it just naturally flowed a little bit throughout the matches that, okay, we're not starting from scratch, we already know each other, I know how you play, you know how I play. You know, building something together.

HSIEH SU-WEI: I thought because I'm cute, that's why you asked me.

ELISE MERTENS: And she is very cute, too. (Laughter.)

Q. Elise, you say you know how Su-Wei plays. Wondering if she surprises you during matches.

ELISE MERTENS: Oh, yes, she does sometimes, of course. That's what I like about her. It's not straightforward. She can surprise you in many ways.

It's also very fun on court. It's not like, okay, we have to focus and if you miss -- no, we're just like, okay, let's float a little bit. Sometimes it just comes natural with both of us.

Q. You mentioned that great shot Su-Wei hit from the baseline. Su-Wei, when you watch Elise, she had a couple of amazing lobs today, one with the forehand and one with the backhand. What do you think of those shots?

HSIEH SU-WEI: Remember? She do the lob winner? I was so surprised. I was, Wow, that's a winner. Remember that shot?

ELISE MERTENS: Yeah, I do remember. It was an important point, kind of an important game to break.

HSIEH SU-WEI: It's not often to see lob winner when the girl at the baseline. It's really too good. Be careful, girls. (Laughter.)